Review 105: Best Homes in Florence, Montebello Apartments

When

May 2001

Review

We were in Rome, Florence, Pisa, Venice, and Padua for 2 weeks in May 2001 with my son and daughter in law. It was their first trip, so we stayed in hotels in Rome and Venice (Starhotel Metropole in Rome and Starhotel Splendide Suisse in Venice). To give them at least a taste of apartment rental living, we spent 3 nights in an apartment in Florence. It was the Leonardo apartment in the Montebello Apartment building on Via Montebello.

The building is right on the Arno and 1/2 block from the Hotel Excelsior in a very nice, safe neighborhood, just a few blocks from Santa Maria Novella station. Everything was within walking distance. The neighborhood is off the tourist path, with great neighborhood stores and restaurants. This building has a number of apartments for rent; the Leonardo was the smallest of all the apartments. It had a good sized kitchen and 2 fine bedrooms, 1 with a queensized bed and 1 with twin beds. Also 2 very nice bathrooms, 1 with shower and 1 with hand shower (European style). The shower was the usual very narrow shower stall found throughout Italy, but sufficient. There was no separate living room, but the kitchen included a love seat and a television. The kitchen area was efficient and fully equipped, including a washing machine.

If I were looking for a longer term rental, I would definitely consider going back to the Montebello into a larger apartment. For a week or less, the Leonardo was fine. I think, however, for a longer term and with 4 people, there just was not enough sitting room if one wanted to relax at home for the evening, nor was there a terrace or outside area to use.

That's it for Italy for this year. Next year we are planning to go to the Amalfi coast and will be looking for an apartment or villa in that area. I have already started my search.

This review is the opinion of a Slow Travel member and not of slowtrav.com.